Young Women Misbehavin'

The unrest and confrontation that was a result of the election in Iran has been at the tip of discussion all across the world. The central force in this opposition is the women’s movement and the struggle for equal rights in a community with history based on the oppression of women. An opinion article that I read this morning in Slate  got me thinking about the force that has been going on behind the scenes for years and has come to fruition in the past weeks. It is the grassroots movement for the end of laws that discriminate against women and deny equal rights. The author started  and ended by saying, “Regimes that repress the civil and human rights of half their population are inherently unstable.”

The results and handling of the election in Iran provided activists on the ground who have been quietly organizing for years, a platform to come together and oppose the political system as it is in place.  They stand behind a candidate who has voiced his intention to overturn discriminatory laws and give women and men equal rights.  They communicate that discrimination is not the norm and unite to make a difference.  

Twitter, Facebook, and the internet have not instigated the outrage and uprising, but they have been the difference. They facilitated communication and awareness.  They have allowed images, firsthand accounts, and information to reach people that otherwise wouldn’t know what was going on.  We are no longer able to turn our head and look the other direction. 

The image of a woman, 27-year old Neda Salehi is seen on posters throughout Tehran , the graphic video of her death transmitted across the internet. A young woman who was simply standing outside of her car has become the martyr for a generation and the symbol of the struggle of a population.  In Iran and many other areas around the world there is not only inequality, but laws putting this inequality in place.  Every change that is made, every step that is taken anywhere in the world for equal rights is a step in the right direction. Support causes you believe in; because even if you aren’t on the streets of Tehran, your actions and support can be transmitted around the world in a matter of seconds.

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